UNDERGRADUATES ON SCHOLARSHIP

UNDERGRADUATES ON SCHOLARSHIP: * * *

23.

Dr Ong Seh Hong asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry tracks the educational performance and psychological well-being of undergraduates on scholarship; (b) what are the numbers of undergraduates who have lost their scholarships over the last 10 years; and (c) whether counselling was provided to these undergraduates who had lost their scholarships, to help them cope financially and psychologically.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: The percentage of students who have had their scholarships terminated due to poor academic performance at our universities is small, at about 3%.

Each university and scholarship awarding agency has its own measures in place to support the well-being of their scholars.

For example, in the public sector, the Public Service Commission and MOE Teaching Scholarships Unit have dedicated scholarship officers who look after their overseas and local scholars, contacting them regularly and providing support and guidance. They also

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arrange for each scholar to pair up with a senior scholar through a "buddy system", to ensure that they receive additional support from their peers.

I would like to assure Dr Ong that scholarship awarding agencies and universities provide support for scholars who fail to meet academic expectations. They initiate conversations with under-performing scholars, to better understand their problems, and provide advice and counselling where necessary. Scholarships are only terminated as a last resort. For the small number who do lose their scholarships, our universities offer alternative financial support such as study loans and bursaries.

In addition, our universities have counsellors who work hand in hand with doctors, psychiatrists and faculty members to provide pastoral care and support to all students in need. They also train student counsellors to help look out for behavioural changes in such students, and refer them for counselling where necessary.

Our universities also have programmes in place to help all their international students settle in, and adjust to life at the universities and in Singapore. The international student centres organise activities such as orientation programmes for first year undergraduates, as well as international fairs and concerts to make them feel at home.

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